I’ve been keeping half an eye on the SCOTUSblog’s live coverage (yes, I’m that bored), and this just came across:

Tom: Gun rights prevail

Erin: The opinion concludes that the 14th Amendment does incorporate the Second Amendment right recognized in Heller to keep and bear arms in self defense

Tom: 5-4

Erin: Stevens dissents for himself. Breyer dissents, joined by Ginsburg and Sotomayor.

The ruling means that the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution now applies to all 50 states (imagine that!), and local government can’t simply wave away the parts of the Constitution they don’t like. We’ll see how Chicago still tries to get around the ruling.

This is Justice Stevens’ last day, so it’s nice that he could be sent off on such a sour note for the left.

In its second major ruling on gun rights in three years, the Supreme Court Monday extended the federally protected right to keep and bear arms to all 50 states. The decision will be hailed by gun rights advocates and comes over the opposition of gun control groups, the city of Chicago and four justices.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the five justice majority saying “the right to keep and bear arms must be regarded as a substantive guarantee, not a prohibition that could be ignored so long as the States legislated in an evenhanded manner.”

The ruling builds upon the Court’s 2008 decision in D.C. v. Heller that invalidated the handgun ban in the nation’s capital. More importantly, that decision held that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms was a right the Founders specifically delegated to individuals. The justices affirmed that decision and extended its reach to the 50 states. Today’s ruling also invalidates Chicago’s handgun ban.

And timing is everything, because today happens to be the start of the confirmation hearings for Elena “definitely not a lesbian, don’t let the haircut fool you” Kagan, who may be Stevens’ replacement.

Update: In The Windy City last weekend, over 50 people were shot, so I sure hope SCOTUS’s pro 2nd Amendment ruling doesn’t ruin the peaceful atmosphere that Chicago has established by banning guns.

"The ruling means that the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution now applies to all 50 states (imagine that!), and local government can’t simply wave away the parts of the Constitution they don’t like. "

Why did they stop there? They should have said that the 2nd Amendment applies to EVERY AMERICAN !!!! That the Bill of Rights are the rights of the people and also the states !! They keep leaving openings for challenges by the progressives.